Thai VS American Students
- angryteacherishere
- Nov 7, 2015
- 2 min read
By Patty Oun and Paulina
Thai students singing the National Anthem (notice the short haircut and that everyone is wearing the same uniform) and American students posing for pictures (everyone is dresses to express their own personal sense of style).
Before classes start
Patty: Thailand school students should arrive at school before 7.30am because they have to sing the National Anthem and then have to pray before classes start. In America, students should be at school around 8am and go straight to class. They do not have any activities before class.
Paulina: Although it's true that American students do not have to attend an assembly before classes start, they still have to say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the Star Spangled Banner before lessons begin, though they do this in their individual classrooms. The class stands up, faces the flag and then recites/sings (with hand on heart). US elementary and high school students do this every day.
Students in public schools do not pray during the school day - this is because students come from diverse backgrounds and hold diverse religious beliefs. Many private schools, however, are also religious - and here students do pray before classes start.
Uniforms
Patty: Thai students have to wear a uniform. Everyone has the same uniform, with the exception of one detail (different button colors, different ribbon colors and different pins containing the school logo); this detail shows which grade a student attends. In America, some schools have a uniform but some do not.
Paulina: The Thai dress code sounds strict! The schools I attended did not require students to wear a uniform - but both of my brothers went to grammar and high schools with a strict dress code (though still a lot more lax than in Thailand!). They could wear only 3 colors: white, black and navy. The high school required a tie for boys. However, every school in the US has a different dress code.
Studying foreign languages
Patty: Thai students have to learn English at school. This means they begin studying English in early childhood. So: “why are Thai students unable to speak English well?” Because when they get home their family never talks to them in English, because maybe their parents never learned English. American students learn only their own language and do not study foreign languages until they get to high school or university.
Paulina: You're right, Patty. Students here usually don't start learning foreign languages until they reach high school. I started learning Spanish as a junior in high school (it was an elective - I chose to take it, I did not have to). Once again, every school has a different foreign language policy. I actually wish there had been a greater emphasis on foreign language learning when I was growing up - I feel that I missed out, and I'm making up for that now!
Resources:
http://www.svsu.edu/~bcohen/Arnonclass.html
https://chavisat.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/school-in-america-vs-school-in-thailand/
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